J Francho

I actually caught a fish on a crankbait recently, under weird circumstances. Earlier, it was snagged on my shirt, and I clipped the one hook point off the treble, just below the barb. I was just fun fishing, so I threw the bait without replacing the treble, figuring the two points would be fine. Well, one of the fish was only hooked on the clipped hookpoint, LOL. I'm still sticking to my guns on the barbs. 8-)

Dude, I have Boca Orange Seals in three TD-X reels, and the new sheilded hybrid ABEC 7 in an Alphas ITO, as well as a set of very expensive ABEC 9 hybrids in an Alphas. As I said before, they're nice, but the difference on the water is infinitesimal in most people' hands. If a bearing is bad, by all means, replace with ceramic hybrids (they're usually cheaper than OEM anyway), but for most guys to replace good bearings with $32 worth of new ones is silly, when you can simply open the palm plate, remove he spool, and put a drop of oil in there. Plus, if a person isn't going to learn how to properly maintain their bearings, then what good is replacement as a fix?

Get a rubber landing net.

Snag Proof are notorious for tearing right at the line tie. A little dab of silicone usually makes it serviceable again.

Man, there are SO MANY types of worms. I can't pick just a few, LOL.

I have Office ZPI bearings in my Zillions. The difference is infinitesimal on the water, in real fishing situations, but they're nice to have.

Its happened to me a few times in my life, with both smallies and largemouth.

Both the OP and Crest are talking about lakes. As for what Crest says, I concur. Pattern plays out on big lakes and small ones.

LOL, replacing the bearings on a reel that is still under warranty. Just put a drop of oil on the spool bearings. If that doesn't resolve it, call Daiwa. Yes, removing and soaking the bearings in acetone, or replacing with ceramic hybrids would be a small improvement over current state, but total overkill for a new reel.

10" black worm w/ 1/2 oz. weight.

Casca, I think I 1st heard of using them as scupper plugs from you or Chad Hoover, can't remember who. bilgerat, that is a cool mod. Thanks.

Sebile Soft Swimmers 3.5 lb. grappling anchor Titanium leaders Zweigle's Pork Hots Shave and a haircut Grand Total: slightly more than two bits.

Look at the instructions that came with the reel for opening the palm side plate and removing the spool and oiling. The only tools needed are a penny and the oil that came with it. No screws, tools, whoop, or brake cleaner.

With bearings, all you need is a pair of forceps. http://www.amazon.com/Cole-Parmer-Adson-Dressing-Forceps-Dissecting-grade/dp/B003NUWSE0/ref=sr_1_30?ie=UTF8&s=industrial&qid=1278527385&sr=8-30 That was mostly a tongue in cheek reply. I use forceps, or a bent tip awl.

I was only resonding to the line to line comments, and about the Sebile knot failures. For fluoro to hook eye, snell, Uni, and palomar all work fine for me.

How will Miami be able to pay the rest of the team? They gonna play 3 on 5? We were just saying the same thing here at the watercooler. Miami cleared all their decent role players to make room. Where's the other two starters and bench gonna come from?

The Sebile knot only works well if the leader is much larger in diameter than the braided main. It works for me when using fluoro leaders testing 50 lbs. or more for northern pike. Otherwise, the Alberto Knot is pretty much fail safe. http://www.stripersonline.com/Pages/Articles/article_arby_albertos_knot.shtml

Most of the shops around here sell the skirts. They're just a couple bucks, and usually its three to a package. You can also get the skirt making tools and materials from luremaking retailers online, if you want to try custom skirts.

Yep.....In the 90s I caught an 11 lb.+ bowfin, and the state record here was 8 and change. it would have only held up for a few months though. This spring, I'm pretty sure I caught a rock bass that would have obliterated our long held current record of 1-15. Print up a list of state records, and laminate it. Carry this in tackle bag.

Place a drop of oil that came with the reel on each of the spool bearings. I find with heavy use, that my Zillions need a drop about every 6 weeks or so.

I've heard it all. Tape remover to "clean" bearings. BTW, if your Orange Seals aren't spinning freely, you installed the seals wrong, and they are inside the lip of the races, causing interference. No bearing really spins forever when oiled. Add some load, and that's when the fun starts.

Anytime I gain knowledge is a successful trip. I went out yesterday afternoon with a box of bait I just received, and never fished before. Sink rates, the effect of speed and rod input on the action, and simply casting the things accurately were my goals. It was a successful day "fishing," though I'd probably call it "practice." That I yanked a 9 lb. northern out of the creek is just butter. Success all depends on one's individual metrics, which aren't always defined before the start.

Somewhere between the truck and the lumber, I snagged a CI4 and AVS63MLXF. Forgot about that.

You are going to love those two baits!!! I started the spring out with two injected punkers.....both victims to some big toothy critters. Followed them up with some 1.5 oz. Magic swimmers, and titanium leader, and caught six northerns, ranging 8 to 12 lbs. I didn't get the lures back though. No pics, the baits should be here Monday or so. A buddy of mine is building me a proper rod to throw them.....